Craig Gardner has quit Aston Villa to join deadly rivals Birmingham - and admits it has put his family back in the box seat.

Self-confessed Bluenose Gardner has completed a £3million dream move to his beloved club and is already in credit with his folks.

Gardner's parents used to have a box at St Andrews but ditched it when their kid signed for bitter enemies Villa as a trainee.

But the 23-year-old, who becomes Alex McLeish's second signing this month, has now ended his five-year spell across the Second City after running out of patience with limited chances under Martin O'Neill.

He said: "I’m a Birmingham City fan so this means a lot to me. I said to Martin O’Neill that I wanted to leave Villa because I wasn’t getting a game and I kept pushing him for that and he did help.

"Once I knew it was Birmingham who were in for me, then I wanted to go even more. If it had been other clubs then perhaps I might have stayed at Villa and waited until the summer.

"My family are Birmingham fans and they had a box here. When I started playing for Villa, and with my brother Gary being there as well, they switched to watching Villa.

"Now they’ll perhaps have to get the box back again!"

Gardner will be in the Birmingham squad to face Spurs this weekend, with McLeish's troops desperate to make a quick recovery after their 15-match unbeaten run was ended at Chelsea.

McLeish's midfield has been the main reason behind their stunning campaign, with Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer excelling - and Gardner concedes he is already under pressure.

He added: "When you’ve come through at a club then there is not that outside expectation on you. But I know it’s on my shoulders now and it’s my team, so I want to make it work here.

"It would mean a lot to me and my family. Birmingham have spent £3m on me so there is more pressure on me to make it work.

"I know all about Birmingham and the ground. I used to come here as a fan. I was at Cardiff when we got promotion.

"It’s going to be special playing for my team and coming into a team that’s been doing so well. It’s exciting me.

"Although the team has been doing well I think I can bring something else to help us. It will be a new spark for us. I will bring new energy to the team."